Rahul's promise of 'surprises' excites UP Congress

By Pradeep Kapoor. Dated: 1/24/2019 10:49:11 AM

Three-cornered contests and three alliances

Snubbed by SP-BSP alliance leaders Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati, Congress is preparing to contest all the 80 Lok Sabha seats with the cooperation of smaller parties. And this means that UP is set to witness a three-cornered contest involving three alliances.
BJP won 73 seats in the 2014 polls, along with two by Apna Dal. Although the allies are mounting pressure for more seats and share of power in UP, the party is expected to manage them.
BSP showed the willingness to forgive arch rival SP for its leaders' role in the infamous state guest house case of June 2, 1995 and Mayawati enter into the alliance for survival after her party's poor show in the 2014 Lok Sabha and subsequently in the 2017 assembly elections.
Shocked by the alliance and the manner in which BSP chief Mayawati criticised Congress and justified leaving only the two seats of Amethi and Rae Bareli for the Gandhi family, party president Rahul Gandhi told the media in Dubai that his party would surprise everybody with better performance in UP.
Much significance is being attached to the statements of UP in-charge Ghulam Nabi Azad and state president Raj Babbar that party the would improve its tally. The party had won only in Rae Bareli and Amethi in 2014 Lok Sabha seats and the 2017 assembly election also produced poor results.
With only six MLAs and two MPs in the Lok Sabha from UP and a vote share of just 6 percent, the statements of Rahul Gandhi and Ghulam Nabi Azad have boosted the morale of the rank and file. The party is also exploring the possibilities of roping in smaller parties and groups beside fielding senior leaders in the election. Many senior Congress leaders are now claiming that that party would improve the tally.
The recent victory of Congress in three states assembly elections has boosted the morale of party men. State party leaders in consultation with the central leadership are planning several rallies by Rahul Gandhi in the state. The leaders are busy taking direct feedback from workers and people from different sections of society for inclusion in the party manifesto as well as in the selection of candidates.
There is, however, a strong view that the presence of Congress in the fray would help the SP-BSP alliance as the party would wean away upper caste votes from BJP. Powerful Congress candidates are also expected to get the support from minorities, posing a challenge to BJP.
Congress is also planning to raise national as well as UP-specific issues to project a real contest between two national parties. Like every past election, the possible role of Priyanka Gandhi beyond Rae Bareli and Amethi is also being discussed in party circles.
The minorities are also watching the development in Congress, especially the sustained attack on the Modi government by Rahul Gandhi, who has evolved himself during last six months. The manner in which Rahul raised the issues of farmers and corruption is being viewed by the voters with great interest.
The party leadership is getting direct feedback through district level leaders being called to PCC headquarters for discussions with state president Raj Babbar and Ghulam Nabi Azad. Veteran Congress leader Dr Ammar Rizvi says that the party should close doors on outsiders and consider only loyalists who remained with the party during its crisis for selection as candidates.
— (IPA Service)

 

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